His magnanimous spirit would not stoop to party favoritism, nor allow him to exercise the power entrusted him, to promote the interests of any political clique.

In all his measures his great object was to advance the welfare of the nation, without regard to their influence on conflicting parties.

In these things he left behind him a pure and noble example, richly worthy the imitation of his successors in that high station.
The Revolution in France, and the measures adopted by the Allied Sovereigns to arrest its progress, excited the liveliest interest among the people of the United States.

But their sympathies ran in different channels, and very naturally took the hue of their party predilections.
The Democrats, believing the French Revolution to be the up-springing of the same principles which had triumphed here--a lawful attempt of an oppressed people to secure the exercise of inalienable rights--although shuddering at the excesses which had been perpetrated, still felt it to be our own cause, and insisted that we were in honor and duty bound to render all the assistance in our power, even to a resort to arms, if need be.

The Federalists, on the other hand, were alarmed at the anarchical tendencies in France.